Flush control device for water tanks



J. s. AGNEW FLUSH CONTROL DEVICE FOR WATER TANKS 7 Oct. 20, T953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 25, 1950 l/VVE/V TOR JOHN S. HONEM AT'rnRNE Oct. 20, 1953 J. 5. AGNEW 2,

FLUSH CONTROL DEViCE FORWATER TAMS Filed Oct. 25, 1950 "2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 20, 1953 FLUSH CONTROL DEVICE FOR WATER TANKS John Stewart Agnew, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application October 25, 1950, Serial No. 192,013

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a device for regulating the amount or quantity of water used in flushing a water closet and in particular to provide a means whereby a partial flush or a full flush may be obtained at will.

In my copending United States application Serial No. 170,420, now abandoned, I have therein described a device which can be applied to the flushing apparatus of a water closet for controlling the amount of water used at each flushing operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of much simpler construction than that disclosed in my previous application but which will effectively regulate the amount of Water to be discharged at each flushing operation.

The advantages of the present construction and the manner in which the same is used will be apparent by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings which describes and illustrates a preferred exemplification" of the same.

Figure l is a cut-away perspective view showing the device applied to a flush tank;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cut-away perspective view showing an alternative construction of that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a top view of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the device showing the relative position of the parts when the ballcock has dropped to a predetermined level.

Referring first to the modification shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus therein illustrated comprises a flush tank I in which is mounted the usual operating mechanism comprising a ballcock having a float i2 carried on a control arm [3, a discharge outlet M, a flush valve l closing the discharge outlet M, an overflow pipe it, and an operating handle H which through the usual lever arrangement is connected to the stem l8 of the flush valve l5 for unseating the flush valve to initiate the flushing operation.

The apparatus by which a partial flush of the flush tank is accomplished comprises the following parts, namely, a collar l9 into which is fitted a tubular member 20 which has its upper end closed to form a stop. The tubular member 20 fits into the collar |9 with a fairly tight fit so as to hold the member in any position to which it may be moved within the collar for effecting an adjustment of the amount of water used at each flushing operation. The means for mounting the collar IS on the arm l3 comprises a U-shaped clamping member 2| which is pivotally connected to the collar l9 by a pivot pin 22. The arms of the bracket 2| are resilient so that they can be sprung over the arm l3 and tightly grip the same to hold it in its position. Associated with the tubular member 20 is a push rod 23, the upper end of which is adapted to extend into the tubular member 2 and the lower end being bent at right angles thereto and reversely upon itself to form a terminal loop 24 through which passes the stem I8. That portion of the rod 23 which is meant to form the terminal loop 24 encircles the stem I8 and rests upon the top of the flush valve I5.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the device therein illustrated consists of a pair of hinged clamping members 30, 3|. As will be seen by reference to the drawings, the member 30 is formed of two plate members hinged together at one end by a hinge pin 32 and removably attached together at the other end by screw 33 and thumb nut 34. Secured to one of the two parts forming the clamping member 30 is a U-channel 35 which is adapted to embrace the arm |3 of the ballcock The member 3| is formed of two parts connected together at one end by a hinge pin 36 and at the other end by screw 31 and thumb nut 38. Attached to one of the two parts forming the member 3| is a U-channel 39 which is adapted to receive a tubular member 40. Associated with the tubular member 40 is a push rod 4| which has its lower end bent at right angles to form an arm M which engages around the stem l8 and rests upon the valve I5. The members 30, 3| are pivotally connected together so as to allow the member 3| to move on its pivot as the float rises and falls to prevent the push rod 4| from binding in the tubular member 40.

The action of the device is very simple. Either of the modifications shown in the drawings is attached to the arm |3 but in order to avoid repetition the operation of the same will be described with reference to the modification shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In that modification the tubular member 20 is inserted in the supporting member l9 and held in relative position by friction. The clamping member 2| is then applied to the arm l3 by merely pressing the same over that arm. The resiliency of the member 2| is sufficient to hold the clamping member 2| against longitudinal movement on the arm [3. The push rod 23 is then placed in position by inserting the upper end into the tubular member 20 and the lower end engaged around the stem [8. The tubular member 20 is then adjusted relative to the supporting member I 9 by moving it up and down to the position desired to allow a predetermined quantity of water to pass out of the tank during the flushing before the valve I is pushed to its seat by the rod 23. To obtain a partial flush, the oper ating handle I! is actuated to lift the valve l5 from its seat and immediately released. When the water has fallen a predetermined distance, the member 20 will push the rod 23 downwardlyto force the valve l5 back on its seat. To obtain a full flush, all that is necessary is to hold handle I! with the valve l5 of! its seat until the tank is empty.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A water saving device for use in combination with the flushing mechanism of a flush tank for a water closet having a discharge opening in the 4 bottom of the tank, a flush valve including an operating stem closing said opening and a ballcock including a float and an arm supporting the float for automatically refilling the tank after each flushing operation, said device comprising a bracket removably attachable to said arm, a tubular collar pivotally connected to said bracket permitting said collar to be adjusted angularly relative to said arm, a tubular member having a closed upper end carried in said collar whereby said tubular member may be adjusted in a vertical direction relative to said arm, and a push rod having its upper end arranged to enter said tubular member and its lower end formed with a terminal loop to encircle said stem and be supported on the flush valve, said rod and tubular member cooperating to effect a premature closing of the flush valve.

JOHN STEWART AGNEW.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

